Burnett Burns Phils, Yankees Even Series

They say sports make for great theatre. There’s drama and nail-biting action. Perhaps the element that makes baseball the most entertaining are the story-lines that highlight each game. When Charlie Manuel announced that Pedro Martinez would get the nod in New York, the script was written, it was just waiting to be performed.

Unfortunately for the Phillies, Yankees starter, A.J. Burnett wanted the lead role and seized the spotlight from the flashy Phillies veteran.

In a game that featured a pitchers duel of duels, Burnett and the Yankees finished on top, beating the Phillies 3-1, evening the series at one.

Despite surrendering three earned runs, Martinez pitched a solid game, keeping the Yankees off balance most of the night by sneakily mixing in his change-up. Ironically it was that same change-up that got him into trouble in the fourth when Mark Teixeira took one deep into the short right-field porch, tying the game at one.

The Phillies jumped out to the early lead, thanks to an opposite field double from Raul Ibanez, followed by an opposite field, R.B.I. single from Matt Stairs, in the second inning. The Phillies looked to have had Burnett figured out, but the righty settled in nicely, smothering the Phillies line-up, thanks in large part to the generous outside corner of the plate. He finished with nine K’s in seven innings, while walking only two.

Pedro Martinez finished the game with a quality line, six-plus innings pitched, eight strikeouts, two walks and three earned-runs. New York broke the dead-lock in the sixth off the bat of Hideki Matsui, a solo-shot to right. They would add and insurance run in the seventh off of reliever Chan Ho Park, credited to Martinez.

Yankees turned the ball over to Mariano Rivera in the eighth. The Phillies threatened in the inning, with two on with one out, but Chase Utley grounded into the twin-killing, ending the prospect of a rally off of baseball’s all-time best closer.

All of the hype surrounding Martinez’s return to New York and “Who’s Your Daddy,” and what not, Pedro came out unfazed. He made two mistakes that were rightly hammered for long-balls. However, everywhere Martinez goes, a show is sure to follow. For six innings, Phillies fans got exactly that.

Both teams will enjoy an off day before resuming action Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Recommended for you

171 Comments

Paul F (Yankees Fan)

October 29, 2009 at 11:46 pm

If the Yankees had lost today, it would’ve basically been over. Now, it looks like this series might be the classic people thought it would be. Props to the Phillies pitching so far. The next three in Philly should be exciting.

But please, fellow Philly Phans, don’t fret just yet. Tonight was a hard-fought game on both sides and a very tight one in the end. Also, the biggest positive to take away from tonight’s performance is that Rivera is by no means indestructible. We managed to get men on base for both innings and actually posed a threat.

Let’s give the Yankees a warm welcome when they arrive in CBP. Maybe Pettite should borrow Garza’s earplugs.

talk about a generous outside corner to left handers. he knew he had that corner so he just threw one curveball after another out there, all 6 inches or more off the outside of the plate, and they were all called strikes.

Well Matusi and UT’s first HR weren’t exactly hammered those were the gifts of 314 porch….but that being said we really missed our chances with Burnett. The generous corners were given to both pitchers and the Phillies failed to adjust to them….they took too many bordeline calls in 3-2 and 2-2 counts. It was clear that Burnett wasn’t going to hang himself tonight so this time too much patience actually hurt them.

Fire that fat hillbilly. I hate charlie. Even my Yankee friend said you got through 6 with him. Why push it. STUPID. He just gave up a couple homers. Then Rollins and Vick are not running on that Utley at bat. Come on hick.

Jeff I thiought the same way but if Utley strikes out then Jimmy could have gotten caught in rundown between 2nd and 3rd…and then inning is still over. Or what if Ut popped one up….they would have probably been doubled off. Inning over. If UT had he popped out we’d still have 2 outs with 2 runners in scoring position for Howard but only if they didn’t run…

I was up in bed watching postgame and Leslie Gudel sounds sick as a dog, yet she was interviewing Cole standing 2 feet away from him! Dam that irritates me. Granted, I’m a bit of a germaphobe, but with all this flu crap going around, why is someone who’s sick allowed in the lockerroom?

Cole said he’ll be glad to be home, knows the fans will be excited. He said he loves when the fans go nuts when Lidge comes in and gets a save. He looks a little tired to me, I hope HE’S not getting it too.

Jeff,
Lay off Charlie. Pedro was looking really strong in the 6th. And starting the runners is a big risk. If Chase strikes out and Rollins is thrown out at third, then we’re all ripping Charlie for leaving Howard in the on-deck circle. You don’t start the runners there because you don’t want to take the bat out of Howard’s hands.Besides, Chase was clearly safe anyway. That was a bad call.

We have to give Burnett credit. He pitched well. Had great control and came up big in a big spot. So tip of the hat to him.

The Werth pick off really hurt. That might have been the turning point of the game.

I know it was only the 4th inning, but the Phils were up 1-0 and got the lead off man on for Ibanez and Stairs. We had a chance there to get Burnett rattled, and Werth blew it. Molina made a nice play, but Werth never should have been wandering that far off the bag. If the phils could have gotten up 2-0, the game might have been different.

We need Hamels. Hopefully he can pull a turnaround like Moyer did in Game 3 last year.

Oh Crapdaddy….put Blanton in a clean room that they use to inspect microchips…wow if that’s true about Pedro that makes his performance that much more outstanding. Yet another black eye for MLB…baseball in the winter during flu season no less.

jreed: I understand that point… but if you realllyyyyyy want to keep Utley from popping up or hitting a line-drive out, just don’t swing…. Jimmy and Shane SHOULD be able to successfully get a double-steal off a closer!!!! And then you’d have our biggest-RBI guy with TWO runners in scoring position.

Manny,
I don’t think you run there with two strikes on Utley — not with Howard on deck. If Ruiz or Feliz is up, I say send the runners. But with the big boys up, it’s just too much of a risk that you run yourself out of an inning.

Now, if Utley had been ahead in the count 2-1 or 3-1, then you be aggressive and send the runners. But Utley fell behind Rivera right away and it was too risky to run with two strikes.

It’s a tough call and obviously it didn’t work out. But in hindsight, I think charlie made the right decision. It just didn’t work.

Philly Texan – Jeff always wants to fire Charlie after a tough loss. I agree about the Werth base running blunder….it reminded me of those twins and angels games. I hate sloppy baseball. There was also that weird miscommunication between Park and Ruiz….Ruiz set up outside and then moved inside Poseda. Park readjusted in mid delivery but missed the spot Ruiz had moved to. The team didn’t not look as sharp as usual. But we were that close to getting Burnett. With a Molina brother behind the plate you got to be careful. It really pissed me off and really allow Burnett to settle down.

Also Manny, don’t try to steal 3rd with a left handed batter up…the catcher has a clear shot a third. You can do it but you have to be Carl Crawford fast and Jimmy to his credit is fast but not Carl Crawford/BJ Upton fast.

j reed,
I agree. Everyone knows a Molina will throw behind runners. I wonder some times where Werth’s head is at. Great player, but he seems to zone out sometimes on base. He got picked off in last year’s game 2 also if I remember correctly.

Yeah, I really think that was the turning point. Burnett settled down right after that, retired the side, then Texeria hits the game-tying homer in the bottom half and it was clear we were in for a dog fight game.

If Werth doesn’t get picked, maybe swipes a bag, scores a run and it’s 2-0, then the game’s totally different.

Manny – the Flu shot protects you from the Influenza virus which is a different and more deadly animal than the common cold (rhinovirus) or the “bug” that happens to be going around. The rhinovirus is rarely fatal but Influenza can be very deadly because it. cause pneumonia. If you have Influenza the only place you’ll be going if anywhere is to a hospital. It has the same symptoms of the common cough but more intense with extreme fatigue.

Philly Texan – you read my mind…. Werth is tremendous player but drives me crazy. Then I remember when I first heard him interviewed and it dawned on me …. he’s baseball’s version of Jeff Spicoli. Also remember that 9th inning, game 1 of the Rox series when I think it was either Tulo or Attikins hit a ball in the gap in right center and he clearly reacted way after the fact….maybe it was the sun and he just didn’t see it, but I wouldn’t put it past him if his head was elsewhere.

Yeh, Werth looses his concentration out there once in a great while and he might be more deserving of the Jeltz Award instead of Howard for this game. Would you not expect Howard to generally have trouble hitting a pitcher like Burnett with all the curves and breaking balls that he throws? I would say that Howard getting the Jeltz exemplifies not only his four strikeouts but also the failures and frustrations of the offense as a whole. When I saw J-Roll first pitch hit fly out to start the game, I kind of had a funny feeling that it was not going to be the Phil’s night.

the other thing about running on that play, aside from double play possibilities, is that if utley strikes out and they both get the stolen base, it leaves first base open to walk howard and set up the righty righty matchup with werth. how come the infinitely knowledgeable tim mccarver didn’t think about that?

mike B. – yeah werth is jeltzable as well but the golden sombero stands out more. The thing that annoyed me was that they were not adjusting to the strike zone which was definitely a pitchers friendly zone that remained consistent until rivera entered which would have be kosher if our two MVPs and Ut received the same star treatment. That being said when the zone is favorable to the pitcher and he’s getting the corners you can’t sit on borderline pitches to work into hitters counts because a certain percentage of them will be called strikes. I mean I wouldn’t exactly describe Burnett’s stuff as all together nasty like Lee and he certainly hung a few of those curveballs. Furthermore he was predictable after a few innings. That 3-2 in the dirt curveball that Jimmy struck out on was so easy to call that I couldn’t believe he got that suckered. Burnett evened the score from early this year,…he made Jimmy look like an ass. That said J-Roll then puts togerther a brillant AB against Rivera in the 8th. Ultimately the line-up needed to be more aggressive after the first time thru in this instance and get more balls in play. The Angels figured that out in the game they took him for 4 runs in the first. I love the knew found plate discilpline but when the strike zone is pitcher friendly they have to take what they are given. Their approach today wasn ‘t well thought out today and they seemed suprised at Burnett two seamer. And also Burnett clearly struggles out of the stretch. Unfortuanately he wasn’t giving many free passes.

Well it looks like an automatic loss recipe for saturday: that loser Hamels + Petite = phillies loss. Hamels has pitched like crap in the regular season AND playoffs. Our only hope is that hillbilly takes Hamels out early if he allows 2 runs. I say again: He must be taken out if he allows 2 runs within 3 innings or more. Then put Happ in. Petite will be on his game and the phillies will be lucky to get one run maybe 2 off him. Hamels and / or Hamels-Happ combo would have to pitch the games of their life saturday and the phils would have to score 2 or 3 runs to win. I doubt it. Hamels is terrible and he will succumb to the pressure. And he is immature and likes to get emotional and act like a spoiled kid on the mound if he allows a hit or homer or if one of his teammates makes an error. What a guy. .. Trade the F___! He is a one hit wonder. He cannot throw proper pitch location – he has no control and the pitches end up over the plate. That is his problem. Any fly balls the yankees hit in Citizen’s Bank’s band aid box will be homers…all night long. Petite will get the phils to hit ground outs and keep the phils from getting under the ball to hit it out. And with Sabathia due to pitch in game 4, the phils have no chance in this series. Lee may pitch game 5 and the phils win that game but it’s over in Yankee stadium in game six. My prediction saturday: Yankees 6, phils, 2. Done, over, zippo. thanks for comin out.

2 things –
With the offense this team has, 3 runs should be nothing to overcome, nothing!
And Nelson – OMG – Burnett parked that low outside fastball out of reach, out of the strike zone all night long because he was getting the calls –

It’s true that once you see where the ump is leaning you should be able to adjust but this ball was just out of reach for Howard and co. The Jeltz award should have gone to the umpires with Jeff Nelson as the main recipient.

That stupid box that Fox would show on the screen for pitch placement – how many times did a called strike not even show up on the TV screen because the ball was so outside??

BS – we have the Yanks exactly where we want them – even if Cole gives up 4 runs in 5 innings, we need to put up more and we should!

Ironic thing is, the people saying Charlie should have yanked Pedro after the sixth are probably the same people who screamed about Charlie pulling him too early in LA.

Pedro pitched a great game. Give Matsui credit. He hit a good pitch, down in the zone. Then Pedro started the 7th by totally tying up Hairston, and giving up a cue shot off the end of the bat. He gave up a base hit after that and was done, but he looked good into the 7th.

It seemed to me that many of the hits he gave up were on two-strike counts, like there might have been a little bit of a focus issue. But I was pleased with Pedro overall. He put up a good performance and got outpitched.

Where we really left Burnett off the hook IMO is not by looking at too many breaking pitches but by letting him throw so many first-pitch fastballs. I think the line-up, individually, just sort of assumed he’d switch over to throwing curveballs for strike 1 and he was able to sneak fastballs by them all night long.

Sure we can nitpick every single move Charlie made and it would have been great to be clearly in the driver’s seat up 2-0 going into Philly but, there are a lot of positives that are surfacing. The Yankees offense couldn’t tee off on a guy well past his prime, April-Rod has shown up once again, the Phillies hitters will will show up (they are just too good not to), CC has to have doubts about facing the Phils, and in the 9th when FOX panned into the Phillies dugout the team clearly feels that they can win even when Rivera is on the mound up 2 runs.

Its going to be a series that will be talked about for many years to come.

I can’t believe Charlie did not send the runners there. There is no chance of Chase Utley hitting a line drive and one of the players getting doubled up. It’s all Charlie’s fault that the Chase hit the ball where he did. Also, it is Manuel’s fault that Werth got picked off. He should have given him a sign telling him to pay attention to the game. And I can’t believe Charlie did not yank Pedro in the 7th. That is his biggest mistake since pulling Pedro in the 7th in the last game. I just don’t understand why Charlie told his players to only score 1 run. He should have told them to score more runs. He is such a moron.

I personally would of probably taken Pedro out after 6, he did look like he was tiring. But he did pitch a great game, 6+ 3R on that stage and against that lineup will win games on most nights for this team.

I am not gonna rip Charlie for not starting the runners in that situation. Hell Utley can hit a line drive right to Cano and inning is over there in that case. Hindsight is 20/20. The fact is we didnt hit the ball well enough to beat them last night.

Unforunately for us, Burnett was brillant and we didn’t make adjustments at the plate. It was good to see us make some noise on Rivera, he is far from invincible. If Giradi wants to keep throwing him in the 8th and 9th, he’s gonna pay for it.

We split 1-1, less satisfying when we lost Game 2. But we are in a great spot.

Hamels v Petitte should be a good one….Cole is due and our lineup is too good to not make the adjustments to hit Petitte.

It isn’t an automatic running situation on the 3-2 count on Utley. Even if you send them, Howard could have struck out anyway. Pedro was pitching well enough to send him back out there. Gardners hit was a lucky popup to leadoff and Cano’s was a solid hit. I think Cholly wanted to get one more inning to get to Madson in the 8th to face the top of the lineup.

Neither of the Yankees homeruns were off bad pitches. Both hitters hit decent pitches. Good game by Pedro.

An interesting stat on the Phils: 4 – 14 all time in the postseason in game 2’s.

I think we take 2 of the 3 in Philly (losing tomorrow night with Cole) and then head back to the Big Apple. Yankees in 7. Last night was pure frustration, watching just about everyone fail to produce at the plate. I got so angry that I gave up in the 7th inning. It was just too much to take, hearing the Bronx animals howling in victory after leaving early the night before.

you guys do realize burnett pitched out of his mind last night. when burnett is on, he’s one of the best in the game. its just that he gets rattled and is rarely on for a whole game.

the fact is, we ran into a great pitcher, with a generous strike zone, and only lost by two. we also had opportunities against the closer TWICE to either tie or win the game, with one swing of the bat. you can’t ask for much more than that.

have faith in cole. i just hope the phils can adjust to pettite. pettite is good, but he’s not the same pitcher he was for those 90’s yankees. we can hit him.

I read most of the comments regarding the Utley-runners situation… and I understand your points… but it just seemed so natural to let your two fastest runners run when there’s a full count and 1-out to avoid the DP and keep the inning going. Sure, there’s a chance they could somehow double-up on you or catch Jimmy stealing third, but at least you try and odds are that the best baserunning team in the league will get it done. PLUS, you’d be stealing off a reliever which makes it even easier.

I’m definitely not blaming Charlie for the loss… but just pointing out something that really stood out to me last night. You managed to get your two fastest runners on base against the best closer in baseball, at least try to get him rattled!

I can see BOTH arguments for or against sending Utley. The point is we missed opportunities to score runs in this game and Burnett was awesome. I don’t blame Charlie at all for this game..

Listen everyone…it’s one game. Even if we lose Game 3, which is a distinct possibility with the Hamels/Pettitte matchup, this series is far from over. Let’s take at least 2 of 3 at home …this thing probably goes at least 6 anyway, which most people have thought all along.

Mike & Mike on ESPN this morning said that when the WS is tied at 1, the game 3 winners have gone on to win the WS 36 out of 51 times. That’s a 70.5% clip. Time for Cole to step it up big Saturday night!

Boys! Just cool it! Yes, I would have sent the runners but I can see the argument both ways. As for Pedro, he did fine and the 7th did not matter anyway. Lose 2-1 or 3-1. Nothing automatic about our bullpen in any case.
Yankees got the better pitching in game 2, just like the Phils got the better pitching in game 1. Note I did not say better pitcher – just better performance on that day.
I took some comfort in getting runners in scoring position in both innings off Rivera. I thought that JRolls at bat was fantastic.

It was a good game although the strike zone was a little large for me but it was so for both sides.

I have no idea who is going to win this thing but being in the WS two years straight is just heaven. For those of you unhappy I just say that you are wasting emotion. Would you rather be fans of the other 28 teams?

I am not comfortable putting the load on Cole Hamels on Saturday, despite his excellent stuff. He has not shown up this year. Hopefully he will pack a lunch and regain his “ACE” status. We really need it from Hollywood Hamels. He is the difference-maker. Also, we need to get on base and not leave so many runners stranded. Is Pedro Feliz exhausted out there? He looks like a zombie at the plate.

Im not going to layoff charlie. sorry. pedro was looking real strong against the dodgers too and he pulled him. charlie does not do a good job with pitchers. he should of learned from grady little leaving pedro in to long. of course if you go to pedro in that 6th and say can you keep going, he will say yes. they got 6 great innings from him. they yankees just scored two runs off of homers. enough is enough. bring in park. so they leave him in and boom two big hits.

then not running the speedy guys was a mistake. utley wasnt going to k. rivera is horrible at keeping runners on base. take a chance at that point. there would of been no double play. charlie does a bad bad job. i have no confidence with cole going. we have happ waiting and we dont use him. what a mistake. he is good lefty pitcher. use him and not waste him.

Am I the only one who gets really irritated with Tim McCarver? He makes me really miss Richie Ashburn and Harry K. Blab, blab, blab, blab. He simply goes out there and bullshits us most of the time. Perhaps I would not be so irritable if the Phils had won.

Chuck: Oh, it definitely wouldn’t be over by any means… but I felt the same way last year with Moyer in Game 3… it’s game 1 in your home field, you gotta start strong. Pivotal, pivotal.

What was that stat that the Phillies haven’t lost back-to-back postseason games in the last two years? I think that says a lot about the attitude of our team, and that the offense will bring the big bats Saturday. I’m slightly optimistic about Game 3, we just gotta be loud as we can and give the Yankees absolute hell!!!

Well people better get comfortable with Cole going because he is the one on the mound tomorrow night. Then some people will be ready to rip Charlie for starting Blanton in Game 4. Yada, yada, same old crap. Lose one game and all of a sudden the sky is falling.

If you can’t trust Cole Hamels then you probably should pack it in and stop watching. He is a big key for us, we need that 2nd pitcher to get us a great outing ala what Burnett did for the Yankees last night.

I have all the faith in the world in Hamels. He is well-rested, seems relaxed. If we continue to keep limit baserunners for the Yankees, we will win this series. Time to use OUR park.

EXACTLY!!……We are experiencing something that this city (and a lot of cities) has never had….back to back WS appearances!!! We are the defending champs. Yes…we may lose…It’s a possibility…and what are all of you going to do if that happens?..Jump off the Walt Whitman??

Enjoy this ride. It’s awesome…for you…your kids (if you have them)…this city and region.
______

Kandi K….

McCarver can be annoying at times…but he’s actually a pretty good analyst…and you have to admit…these guys are at least more impartial than those TBS losers that we had to deal with in the last 2 rounds..

Absolutely. Everyone needs to get behind Cole. Yeah…he’s starting to irritate me too with his prima donna attitude and all….but he’s still the best option for Game 3. And Blanton is a great choice for 4. These guys will keep us in these games….time for the offense, the bullpen and the crowd to do its thing.

I think that the Phillies took the wrong mentality into this game… Before the start of game two, I heard too many players say that their goal was to win one in NY. It almost seemed like they were content…

It’s tough to waste a good outing… our 2-4 starters are not very consistent so good outings cannot be wasted. With that being said, we did take one in NY and that’s a victory for us.

Re: Werth getting picked off… I think that you have to give a lot of credit to Molina. As a base runner, when you see a ball heading towards the dirt, your first instinct is to take a few steps towards the next base. Molina snagged a ball in the dirt and threw a rope to first… I’ve told you guys before that I’m not a huge Jayson Werth fan but I think that sometimes you have to tip your hat to the other guy (same thing with the Matsui HR… he hit a great pitch).

Pedro pitched game 2 to give Hamels a better chance to win game 3 at home… it’s tough to believe that these bats will stay quiet forever but I expect another pitcher’s duel. I expect Hamels to be well rested and sharper… but the bullpen is going to play a huge part in game 3 because neither of these pitchers is going to go more than 6 innings. It’s going to be a good one.

Another key moment last night was Howard’s strike out in the third with two runners on (after they intentionally walked Chase.) Walking Chase was a huge gamble.

And on the second pitch to Howard, Burnett made a big mistake: fastball right down the middle and low in the zone — right in Howard’s sweet spot. He’s been crushing those pitches lately.

Howard put a good swing on it and fouled it straight back. He just missed it and you could see him grimace when he missed that pitch.

Another inch one way or the other and that ball is in the seats for a 3-run homer or in the right-field corner for a 2-run double. Would have put the Phils up 3-0 or 4-0 and might have ended the series.

But, hey, he just didn’t square up the pitch and then struck out and the Phils never scored again. As Charlie would say, that’s baseball.

I have a hard time believing that that was an overriding mentality in the clubhouse before Game 2….to be happy with a split. I’m sure those guys wanted to win. Is it a tough loss?? No. But….it just makes winning Game 3 that much more crucial. The pressure is definitely on the Phillies…..but we’ve seen them respond many times to that pressure.

Philly Texan – great point. I had a conversation with my wife about that at bat.

He came up to the plate looking very focused with good plate posture and I thought that he was going to come up with a big hit. After Howard misses that pitch (the one in his sweet spot), his entire demeanor changes… he grimaces and steps back into the box standing almost upright. Gotta shake it off…

Chuck P, agreed, though in Howard’s defense, that was his one pitch to hit and he knew it.

With Burnett throwing that devastating curveball last night, it’s tough not to think you missed your shot. I remember he hung in there — fouled off a pitch or two. But he never saw another good pitch.

I can’t really blame the Big Man there. He did everythign right: waited for his pitch, saw it, put a good swing on it. Just didn’t square it up. It happens.

I will give Howard credit for at least being agressive early in the count. Most other Phils just stood and looked at fastballs down the middle.

If they see Burnett again, they have to change their approach and be more aggressive. They can’t wait for him to lose his control. They need to MAKE him lose his control by jumping on some first-pitch fastballs and rattling him with a few hits. That’s what the Angels did.

I kept thinking the Phils would get more aggressive early in the count the second or third time through the order, but they never did.

Chuck, I know that’s not like our guys but I heard Utley and Ibanez both say almost the exact same thing and I have a hard time believing that they didn’t feel a bit content… especially after watching the game. Here’s the comment that I heard (not word for word… paraphrased as best as I can) “We came in here with the goal of winning one in NY and now that we’ve won one we’d like to try to win two.”

That DOES sound a bit like they were content….I understand the feeling of going into Yankee Stadium and being happy with a split..But as a team they probably should have taken an approach that was more suggestive of a knock-out punch….because you really don’t know what is waiting around the corner… let’s hope it doesn’t burn themin the end..

Its gonna be interesting to see when we see Lee and Sabathia again. Can anyone see the Yanks starting Gaudin or Chamberlain in Game 4, if they are trailing 2-1 (that would be great of course).

I don’t think we see Lee until Game 5 no matter the outcome tomorrow. Charlie is reluctant to pitch Lee on 3 days rest, seeing that he’s never done it before. Blanton-Lee-Martinez?-Hamels should be able to take us home in the event this goes 7 games.

I agree with Chuck. I don’t think it makes any sense to bring back Lee in Game 4. It just feels like a desperate move. Obviously tomorrow night’s game will go a long way into how desperate the Phillies will feel. If Hamels goes out and throws the way I expect him to, we should go up 2-1.

This is going to be a really tough series. I think overall the Phillies would’ve been happy with a split. That doesn’t mean they didn’t play their tails off last night. It was just too much Burnett.

Also, look for some great Philadelphia Phillies memorabilia from my client, Steiner Sports. It has some great stuff from last season’s run. Hopefully we’ll follow it up with another title this season.

Mccarver is annoying this year,but he was much worse last year when we played LA.All he and Joe Buck wanted to talk about were Mary Hart in the stands and how good the dodgers were.And how the Phils were lucky to be there.
As he is a former Phil,I was pretty much hating him for that .
This year they seem to be falling all over themselves to compliment us.
But that’s annoying too…
I wish we could use Philly guys.

Man somebody had to remind of the two Werth mistakes made in the second game of the ’08 series….just when I was getting over his latest Jeff Spicoli move last night. He’s been caught off guard on the basepaths a few times this year. Granted it was a curveball in the dirt but with 1-0 lead in the 4th inning of a pitching duel err on the side of caution esp with a Molina bro behind the plate. Still I’m glad to have him on the team.

I agree: we won’t see Lee until Game 5. Can’t win a world series with only one good pitcher. We need Hamels to pitch well to beat the Yankees. But we all knew that before the series anyway.

To me, Game 3 is the key to the whole thing. If Hamels pitches well and Phils win, then we’ll see CC again in Game 4 up 2-1.

That would mean the phils would head into Game 5 either tied 2-2 or up 3-1 with a chance to clinch. Either way, I’d feel good with Lee facing Burnett (on three days’ rest.) The Phils will hit Burnett next time — I guarantee.

But if they lose game 3, then it’s CC against Blanton with the Yanks maybe going up 3 games to 1.

So Game 3 is huge.

I’ve stood by Hamels the whole year. I’ve defended him to my friends and family and on this site. I’ve waited patiently for him to turn it around.

But after that last Dodgers start, I’ve given up. I have no idea what we’ll see from Hamels. Hoping for the best, but fearing the worst…..

I’d take Blanton over Happ…Happ hasn’t looked sharp ever since he reinjured his oblique. Also Happ’s really a fly ball pitcher and the last time he pitched against the Yanks, that line-up was showing signs of picking up the invis-a-bal.l Granted he wasn’t throwing as much off speed stuff as he has been of late, but he has struggled to throw his off speed stuff for strikes these days. Blanton also has a good slider for righties and that improved change-up for the lefties. His last outing wasn’t bad considering the ump’s strike zone was tight plate wise and height wise. It was the most stingy strike zone I had ever seen. This current umpire crew is pretty good and I think Blanton would do much better. And just on performance alone this year, I think he deserves a chance to start. He really put the rotation on his back after Myers went down earlier this season. And we all have been waiting for Hamels to shnow up…Pump up that fastball Hamels…I know he can get it up to 94 if he gets out of his head and throws…enough painting.

I read somewhere a rumor that the Phils thought Hamels might be tipping his pitches.

That would make a lot of sense.

The TV analysts keep saying he needs to throw his curveball more — that he’s become a two-pitch pitcher.

But I don’t remember him throwing his curveball much last postseason either. It was a spot pitch, but that’s all. (It seems that curveball gets hit out of the park a lot anyway.) He was a two-pitch pitcher last year too and it worked.

If the bats can catch some fire so Hammels just has to give up 3 or 4 runs then we still get the win. I see game 3 as more of the offensive showing some people expected from this series. Also even though they have been up and down this year I think the pen can get it down in the 7th and 8th. So if Hammels can go 6+ and 3 ER I think the phillies can win it. But game 3 is always the biggest game of a 7 game series, Home at night sold out crowd I think Cole will show up.

Wait a second…..Cole really didn’t pitch all that poorly in the Dodger game. He gave up 3 mistakes…which inexcusable …..but he DID make a lot of good pitches.. I think he’ll be ok..

_____

Mike Missanelli just said on the radio that he’s not comfortable with Blanton facing CC in Game 4 if the Phillies are down 2-1…

I have to disagree….Blanton is fully rested….has experience with playoff baseball….and has been our most consistent starter all year….CC will be on short rest (3 days) and we have all seen how he has faired in those situations and at the Bank…

I’m not scared of that matchup at all..

Take it a step further….if the Phillies go UP 2-1….Blanton is STILL fully motivated….because he knows Cliff Lee pitches in Game 5….on full rest…and with a chance to win at home..

Philly Texan – I’ve preached more curveball or at least a third pitch all season….For a starter with two pitches you don’t exact have alot to mix up you patterns so a few line-up turn overs and you become predictable….I don’t think he’s tipping in so far as he’s predictable. Relievers are different cause they usually work one or two innings. If he gets his fastball velocity up he can at least blow it by batters who are sitting on it. Also he throws a 4 seamer which has the least movement on but easiest to locate because it’s a straight arrow pitch for the most part. You can get that “rising” 4 seamer only if you get the ball to the plate quicker. This is partly because the ball takes less time than normal to reach the hitter, but partly also because the Magnus force has a substantial upward component of force. The Magnus force is the result of unequal drag forces acting on the lower and upper surfaces of the ball. This type of pitch is often called a “rising fastball,” because hitters often claim that the ball rises as it moves towards them. Actually, this is an optical illusion created by the ball’s smaller than expected rate of fall. Yippie.

Philly Texan – Also Hamels matched-up perfectly with the Rays last year…If you look at pitchers they struggled the most with it was The Chi Sox’s John Danks, a tall left handed power pitcher with a nasty change-up…Sound like someone you know?

But it’s a balancing act, because his curve is his worst pitch, and he hangs it at least half the time. Against the Rockies, he was pitching well, then goes to the curveball and Yorvit hits two-run homer. It’s tough to give up the key hit on your third-best pitch.

I agree that his fastball has little movement, which is a problem.

Does Hamels have a cutter?

If not, he should develop one for next year to jam righties. Mix that with the dying quail changeup outside, and he’d be devastating.

J reed, yeah, but Hamels also dominated the Brewers and Dodgers (twice) last year — two of the top offensive teams in the NL.

It’s been clear that he wasn’t the same pitcher this season. For whatever reason.

It seems like every time he makes a mistake, it gets pounded. And when he makes nasty pitches, they get fouled off again and again, raising his pitch count. All that makes me wonder if he hasn’t been tipping pitches.

Philly Texan – Actually his curveball against the dodgers looked good…I have to give him a pass on that game his wife was in labor, but that’s it….a curveball was also a dumb choice for a 2-2 count to a right handed batter so I wonder who called that, him or Ruiz. He should have busted him inside. I think his curve works well against left handed batters though. Yeah needs a cutter or a two seamer…i prefer the later because it induces more groundballs. His Pitch f/x data says he has been throwing a two seamer but not a whole lot and furthermore it has movement values similar to his change-up with only a 3-4 mph differential…I guess the two seamer is a work in progress. I just wish we could download Chan Ho’s two seamer into Hamels brain for the game.

Philly Texan – remember that each of those line-ups are young and vulernable to a crafty lefty. Hamels was still a mystery then…now he has a target painted on his back. Teams adjusted to him but he counter punch their adjustment. I did read that he fooled with his mechanics earlier…perhaps doing has let batters see his pitches better. It could be that he’s not hiding the ball as well anymore.

To Kandi: You missed the best (or should I say worst) broadcaster blunder of the Game 1 telecast–but it was by Joe Buck. He said “Both of these teams have won 7 games in the post-season this year”. My husband and I just looked at each other and said “Duh!” That’s how you GET to the World Series. These guys have no concept of the effective silences that made Kalas and Ashburn great. They just blather on to hear themselves talk, and if they have nothing to say, they think something up, no matter how stupid. And to all those who say Hamels must come up big tomorrow night….there is absolutely NO reason to think he will. He’s blown enough important games. We have to win in spite of him, not because of him.

We can talk ALL we want to about curveballs, cutters,etc.,etc. all we want…..I think the bottom line with Cole is he has lost just enough of his mojo to where it has affected his confidence…..and then THAT has an effect on his pitch selection…..

Last season he looked like a man on a mission….this year not so much..

cas – I think in big event network broadcasting dead air is seen as not working. Actually I find some of the best broadcasting in tennis…they seem to understand those the imporatance of silence to punctuate what you say. Though I don’t like his voice, Scully of the Dodgers has excellent delivery and can spin a good yarn. But he also know when to shut-up

It is nice to see the Phillies made all you Moyer haters happy(Geoff), can not wait to see what you will have to say when Pedro gives up 6 runs in 4 innings on 9 hits 2 walks and 2 K’s. Moyer will be back in the rotation by September, and go back to pitching 6 or 7 innings and giving up 3 or 4 ER and you will still hate him, and say how bad he is. But you got to let Pedro pitch one maybe two starts before we can send him away with his million dollars. Then we will not have to worry about who to send down when Myers comes back. Here is your shot Pedro I am hoping I am very very wrong here, but I know deep down I probably am not

Chuck – that’s backwards. It makes more sense that he has he lost his mojo because he hasn’t had the same results as last year for the aforementioned reasons and some bad luck. Both Lee and Lineceum after their Cy Young years both developed new pitches…Lee a cutter and Linececum a change-up. Why? Because they knew they would be in every batter’s cross hairs the following. Even CC developed that change-up after yet another dismal play-off which was due partly to overuse but that he didn’t really have a viable off speed out pitch for right handers. That being said he needs to use what he has now and do it with conviction….Burnett did it last night. He really need to amp up that FB…christ he’s 25 and the median age of the yankees is 35. He needs to stop painting and throw, at this point in the season he can blow it by alot of these guys.

Cole said at the beginning of the season that he hadn’t followed his usual training regimen during the off-season because he’d been making appearances, etc., after being MVP of both the Series and the NLCS. He said then that if we lost the division by one game, it would be his fault. Hopefully, without all the accolades, he can do his usual working out and develop a new pitch in the off-season this year and start with a clean slate in 2010. Just hope it doesn’t cost us another ring.

Yeah well in my mind, if Cole can pitch us to victory tomorrow night then that will make up for his season of disappointment, for him and us. And then this off season he needs to dedicate to developing a new pitch. A cutter would be good, or he could try and get his curveball to I don’t know…curve.

I’m sure he would do it cause he’s a gamer. But as a manager, you don’t ask a player, especially a pitcher, to change his routine for the first time ever in the middle of the World Series. That’s setting up his best pitcher to fail.

Blanton is perfectly capable of winning a game for us.

And Game 5 will be critical — no matter where the series is at. I like saving our best pitcher for that game on regular rest.

The bottom line is we need to win one of the next 2….which I thnk we will…which sets up a FULLY RESTED Lee in a Game where the Phillies can go up 3-2….

and who knows….maybe we steal BOTH of the next 2…..not out of the question….that then puts Lee in a WS winning game..

I like the decision….don’t count Blanton out.

Hamels….he DOES need to use what he has now with conviction…problem is I don’t he’s trusting enough of what he has…hopefully he 1) digs a little deeper for tomorrow and 2) the offense can get to Pettitte….

I’m feeling pretty confident. Phils have dropped Game 2 now in three straight series, each time after a scoring a bunch of runs in Game 1. It’s some kind of dysfunctional pattern. They play better under pressure, feeling chased.

I’d rather have Lee going twice than Lee going once. This decision (and it may not be strictly Chollie’s decision) is not good news for the Phils. Joe Blanton is a mediocre righty who will be pummeled by the Yanks.

Game 3 is a must win for the Phils with Sabathia vs. Blanton in Game 4. The pressure is all on Cole Hamels.

My Yankee friends are in from N.Y. for the weekend. So me and my brother have to watch Games 3-5 and the Eagles/Giants game with them. Hopefully we’ll be sending them home with 2009 World Champion Phillies T-Shirts! About the game: I’m sure everything has already been said. I agree with Jeff. Charlie bleeped up big time. Pedro was money last nite. But Charlie went too far. He should’ve pulled Pedro for Eyre or Happ in the 6th to face Matsui. Allowing Pedro to go out for the 7th was one of the dumbest managerial moves in the W.S. I have here seen live. A.J. was great, but he got some help with off the plate strike calls. Same with Mo in the 8th. But we got a gift in the 8th on the blown DP call so it was a wash. I tip my hat to A.J. because I was sure we’d crush him. Cole scares me, but if we win tomm. I think C.C. folds on Sunday and we win this thing in 5. If the the Yankees win they’ll be a lot of xtra pressure on Joe Blanton of course in Game 4.

So you know Past Blast, I have already posted how wrong I was after his first couple of starts that did not get rained on, and again after the LA game. I ate my crow, and am happy I was wrong, but if you look at a lot of people who post on here that said the season was over after every losing series, and even in the post season saying they would not win. So I am not the only one. But I am glad I made an impression on you.

Bill Miles – you know, as a mystery buff, I thought the same thing. As conspiratorial as it sounds I wouldn’t put it pass them. Jeter had the flu (common cold, not the real influenza) back in the Angels series. I just can’t help myself with the Yankees…they represent all things slimey that slithers in Wall Street. They remind me of the money barons of the Gilded Age.

HK – that’s a good point about Matusi….I was still pissed at how little our bats adjusted to Burnett to pay attention. But your right that was the time to pull Pedro. That’s Charlie’s Achilles heel …when to pull his pitcher. Also I’d throw Dubee under the bus as well because everyone knows Charlie’s all about hitting…pitching, not so much.

pedro is just the man!!!! what a gem he pitched!! – and that he held that line up to what he did when there back was that far against the wall – after being humiliated the night before – in their new stadium – with all the hype – is fankly a tremendous testament to the fact that this guy is STILL one of the most dominating pitchers in the game!! – u can not take a thing away from him!!! – and good hitters are sometimes going to hit – no matter how good the pitch!! – now lets gettim’ in game 3!!!!!!!!!!! – go cole!! – go phils!!!!

Pitching – not necessarily quality of (which even with the best of our pitchers is hot and cold), but when to pull vs. how long to keep in, and choice of whom to put in – has been the bane of our existence personified in the form of one Charlie Manuel. Now, I was relegated to watching the game without sound through a glass at a Japanese restaurant with an obnoxious Yankees crowd next to me, so correct me if I’m wrong, but it seemed like when Charlie finally did pull Pedro, he made a trip to the mound, *didn’t* pull him, and Pedro had to stand there looking like the most miserable poor guy in the world, purposely, until Charlie finally climbed back up the stairs and let him leave. Then we saw a big Pedro smile and rightfully so – he did a fabulous job against a Yankees team and crowd who thought they could eat him alive but frankly, had he come out a little sooner and had our offense stepped up, the domination photo on both cities’ front pages (well, maybe not NY’s, they’re way too arrogant and obnoxious) would have been his. This kind of management worked for us in the regular season only over a very long haul, and we probably could have had a Yankees numbers kind of a season and certainly best NL record without combined pitching (esp bullpen) weakness and waiting until we were *losing* to pull pitchers.
OK, so that’s off my chest. And I will not mention RISP. I will not.
So speaking of pitching, no one wants us to repeat more than I do, but Cole scares the living scrap out of me. If he manages to pitch well, *this* year and in *this* post season, and we find some way to win this game (which we must do), someone please come hunt me down with a huge crow and a big knife and fork. Cole, it’s about the team and the city, it’s not about you. No one on the team is going to feel sorry for you if you give up a scrapload of runs and throw your glove around the dugout. You can be a winner, though. We know you’re capable of it – we don’t necessarily expect it anymore, but we’re hoping for it and we need it. Night game, CBP, hopefully moon aligned correctly for you. And for all of you guys who want him to develop at least one additional pitch next year, point taken, but we’ve gotten to this point *this* year, did that seem easy? Surely we’re not taking for granted we’ll be here again next year. And I know this was mentioned over and over, but it’s what worries me most about who we’ve got coming up in the next two games – the ol’ real estate mantra (the tapes of Lee and Burnett show it well) – location, location, location.
Anyone else got fingernails down to the bone for this weekend?

The reason why you have more won more world series than us is beacause you have a big pay roll . and that is what the Phillies fans will say ha ha ha ha ha. You know what I have to you all Boo hoo hoo! ha ha ha ha ha ha

EVERYONE JUST SHUT UP. MY God…There is more to cry about in this world. We have children dying from the swine flu. Our taxes, houses, cars, food, tv keep going up. Men and women fighting for this great country. We have homeless people and many of us out of work. Cant afford to feed our families. You are fighting over a stupid game and these players make millions of dollars. You dont have to get nasty. It changes nothing of our lives. Yes you root for your team and its fun. Keep it at that. Remember its just a game. Stop hating on each other. Remember 911. We all stood as one.

Pitty Pot?????????? Its about winning the series not what the guy did. We had the game won by the 8th inning. 6-0 You take the guy out and get him ready for game 4. Not lets see if he can throw 130 pitches.

Personally, I am do not like Charlie going with Blanton and his career 8.18 era vs the Yankees in game 4, not because I believe he should throw Lee out there. He shouldn’t. Lee was never going to pitch game 4. Whether he came out in the 7th of game 1 or with the result as is. It just wasn’t going to happen. So be it. But what I don’t get is how J.A. Happ, the guy who was just voted ROY by his peers has been relegated to almost mop up duty if even that. I would much rather he start game 4 than Blanton. Nothing against Blanton at all but I see more potential upside with Happ. That’s just me. I am ok with Lee going game 5, assuming of course that we have at least 2 wins by that point.

Either way, as I have said all playoffs, Charlie wrote the Manuel on winning…in Charlie I trust.

Lee will pitch game 5 because Charlie has confidence in Hamels and Blanton. If it goes to 7, Lee will be available in relief without a doubt.

The Phils have a pattern of winning game one and losing game 2 (last year game 2 or 3) with a poor offensive performance. They bounced back in every series so let’s hope tonight’s gonna be a good night.

I’ve predicted bounceback performances in the past with Hamels and have been wrong every time so I dont expect a great start tonight so the offense and bullpen will need to take this one.

I agree joedad, I think the difference however is that when the Phillies have had to bounce back from game 2’s dismal offensive performances, they were not facing a guy with the caliber of Andy Pettite.

Well, if one of Hamels and Blanton looks shaky out there, you can expect Happ to jump in there to pitch at least 3 or 4 innings…

Blanton’s ERA vs the Yankees is scary, but he’s a very good pitcher. I expect him to do well that he KNOWS that he’ll pitch and can prepare for that specifically… rather than being in the bullpen and getting one-day notice.

With the weather predicted for tonight, I don’t expect either starter to last very long. Rain delays almost always mean your starter tightens up and must be replaced. We might see Happ in this game, and maybe it’s a good thing Manuel has kept him in reserve. He beats any reliever the Yanks can drag in.

Trust me, I love Happ more than any other sane Phillies fan. I am almost okay with him not pitching because then I can enjoy the games. I get very whatever when my Happ pitches. Anyone on Twitter who gets my updates can definately agree. But for Hamels to continue to get the starts when he has shown nothing even relatively close to last year is sickening. He is not very good and acts like a baby at times on the mound………but he never stays in long. Blanton may have a problem like he did last outing with going later into the game because he has not been starting.

I agree with Happ. He was outstanding this season. He pitched a great game in Yankee stadium. I dont understand why he does not get a start. Blanton has been solid but worries me. Tonight is a huge game. I think you will see CC in game 4. Three days rest is rough for him. We just have to hit and we will be fine. Andy could be a problem tonight.

I agree joedad, he isn’t the same guy he was, but honestly, I would take him over anyone the Phillies will throw out there except for Lee and maybe Pedro at this point. I hope like heck the Phillies destroy him tonight but I don’t see it coming. His numbers this post season have been pretty good. Not great but pretty good.

I think Blanton’s career era against the Yanks might not be such an issue because they haven’t seen him in years…That could give the edge to Blanton at least for 5 innings. Also Blanton has really done alot with that change-up which would work well against lefties on the outside corner of the plate and has a decent slider for the right handed batters.as a low and away pitch. He also has a decent back door breaking ball and has a quick delivery out of the stretch. Happ’s starts since he reinjured his oblique have been less than desirable and during his limited post season appearances he has done nothing but work himself into hitter’s counts. He did pitch well against the Yanks that one time but the advantage usually goes to the pitcher if the opposing batters haven’t seen them. Plus you could see the Yankees line-up beginning to get their timing down against his deceptive Invisi-a-Ball . Granted he threw alot of fastballs and his off speed stuff improved since then but, during his last few outings just prior the post season and his Colorado start esp., his off speed stuff lacked any real bite. I wouldn’t be suprised to hear that Happ needs surgery once the season is over.